Conveyer chain



Oct. 5, 1948. J. L. CLARKSON CONVEYER CHAIN Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

FIG 2 HI/ml INVENTORI JQHNLCLARKSON ATTO R NEY.

Oct. 5, 1948. J (:LARKSONv 2,450,501

CONVEYER CHAIN Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 INVENTO R.

JOHN LC LAR KSON av I 2 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 5, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V v V CONVEYER CHAIN John L. Clarkson, Nashville, Ill.

pplication April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,559

1" The invention relates to conveyor chains and comprises novel features of universal jointstructure and of flight and chainassembly structure.

One object of the invention is to prolong the useful life of chains of 'the type described without increasing their overall width or thickness which would require change in the driving and other associated mechanism. I

Another object is to prolong the useful life of chains of the type described by utilizing the flight as a connector between adjacent chain units and by constructing the flight so as to prevent the customary'frequent breakage of elements connecting the flight to the chain. Anotherobject is to simplify the construction of chains of the type described.

These and other detail objects as will be apparent from the following description are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- .Figure 1 isa top view of a length of conveyor chain showing the essential parts of a pair of flights at opposite sides of the chain. A portion of thestructure is sectioned along the line I-I of Figure 3.

.Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken onthe line 22 of Figure 1.

.z'Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal vertical sections taken'on the lines 3-3 and 44 of Figure 1. a

1.. Figure 5 is atop view of a flight and chain assemblyi corresponding generally to Figure 1 but illustrating another form of the invention.

'.,The chain and flight assembly comprises two universal joint units A and B and a pair of flights 3 extending outwardly from the sides of the chain. Upright pins 4 pivotally connect the tWo elements I and 2 of each universal, joint unit. Each element I is pivotally connected to flights 3 by a horizontally disposed pin 5. Each element 2 is pivotally connected by horizontal pins 6 to chain links I which, with cooperating links 8 and rollers 9, form ordinary chain structure between successive flight and universal joint assemblies.

Each element I has a central longitudinal portion I0 of relatively shallow depth and side flanges II of relatively greater depth. One end of portion I0 is rounded and apertured axially of its roundingjto'iorm a sleeve to receive pin 5, and the other end of portion I0 is flattened to form a tongue 12 which is apertured normal to its flat faces to receive pin 4 which has its axis extendins ina'direcftion" transverse of the direction of theiaii sq inila s. v l p oject upwa d y and downwardly and outwardly of the rounded 7 Claims. (01. 198-176) end and terminate a substantial distance inwardly from the outer end of tongue I 2.

Each element 2 has a central longitudinal portion I3 of relatively shallow depth and side flanges I4 of relatively greater depth. One end of portion I3 is rounded and apertured axially of its rounding to form a sleeve to receive pin 6 and the other end of portion I3 is slotted to form spaced jaws I5, adapted to receive between them the tongue I2 of the associated element. Tongue I2 and laws l5 are apertured for pin 4. Flanges I4 project upwardly and downwardly and outwardly of the rounded end and terminate a substantial distance inwardly from the outer ends of the laws I5.

Preferably, but not essentially, elements I and 2 have the same overall width as rollers 9 plus links 8 and the element (and universal joint unit) is thereby adapted for ready assembly with intermediate lengths of ordinary standard conveyor chain. The flanges of elements I and 2 have the same depth as links I and 8 and the units and flight bases assembled therewith readily fit over the sprocket wheel tooth T. Elements I and 2, although forming a universal joint structure, are equivalent in strength to the intermediate ordinary standard chain link structure and are not subject to failure as are interconnected elements frequently used in universal joints. The flanges at the sides of the elements to which the flights are attached provide large, flat, direct contacts or seats for the flights. Thus play between these parts is reduced, resulting in less wear and longer useful life of the assembly. When, as shown at W, the flights at opposite sides of the chain are rigidly interconnected by welding the retainin pins to the flights, there is a further decrease in the amount of play and wear and consequent increase in the useful life of the assembly.

In assembling the flight and associated elements, a flller (not shown) may be placed between the opposed flights, the width of the filler being slightly greater than the overall width of the elements to which the flights are attached. then the retaining'pins'are applied and riveted over, thus better filling the pin apertures in the flightsandalso avoiding binding of the elements between the flights.

.Figure 5 illustrates another form of the invention in which the universal joint elements 2| and 22 are substantially the same as those previously described and the flights 23 are applied to the outwardly facing surfaces of the flanges 2 4.of,elements.2l, but thebase 25 of each flight is much thickerthan the base of each flightshown 3 in Figure 1. Preferably the thickness of the flight substantially exceeds the overall width of elements 2|, 22.

Pivot pins 26 extend through elements 2| and the flight bases 25, and the apertures therefor in the flight bases are shouldered at 2! and the projecting ends of the pins are threaded for retaining nuts 28.

With this arrangement, the blow transferred from the flight to the chain,or vice versa, when the flight strikes a heavy object, is spread over a long area of pin and the likelihood of fracture of the pin at its shoulder 27 is minimized. At the same time, there is provided the feature of making the flight readily applicable to and removable from the chain by use of nuts 28, which arrangement may be desirable in some installations.

The details of the universal joint structure not claimed herein form the subject matter of a divisional application filed August 21, 1946, Serial No. 691,956. 1

Obviously, it will not be essential thatall the details of construction be present in every embodiment of the invention, and the details may be varied without departing from the spirit of thejinvention. The exclusive use of modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a conveyor chainuniversal joint structure, two units arranged end to end, each comprising a pair of elements pivotally connected to swivel in one plane, adjacent elements of the two units being-spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth, between them, a pair of members extending'along the outer-sides of and pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of said spacedelements toswi'vel transversely of said plane and forming the sole connection between saidunits, at least one of said members comprising a conveyor flight having an arm extending outwardly from the chain. 7

2. In a conveyor chain universal joint structure,

two units arranged end to end, each comprising a pair of elements pivotally connected" to swivel in one plane, adjacent elements of the. twounits being spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth between them, a pair of conveyor flights. extending outwardly from the opposite sides ofthe chain insaid plane, the adjacent-portions of said, elee ments and flights having continuous apertures extending transversely-of the chain, pivot pins extending through said elements and'flights and journalled in said elements to provide forthe swivelling of the unitstransversely of said plane; said pins being 'flxedly' secured to said -fiightsto form a. structure rigid from the outer-end ofone flight to the outerend of the other flight.

3. In a conveyor chain,- units arrangedend to end but spaced apart to. receive a sprockettooth between them, each of said units having an aperture extending transversely of the length of; the chain and in the end of each unitadjacent the othcr unit', a-pivot pin journaled directlyin-each' of said apertures and projecting outwardly from thesides of the=associated unit, conveyor flights extending transversely of thechain iromopposite sides thereof and each having a base; extending alongside the adjacent ends ofthe two units, said pins extending through said bases and-having their; ends weldedjtothe bases to form a structure rigidfrom the outer end of one-flight to the outer end of theother flight.

4. In a conveyorchain universal joint structure, two. units, arranged. end to end, each unit comprising'a pair'of elements and an upright pin 4 pivotally connecting them, parallel members extending along the outer sides of one end of an element of one unit and along the outer sides of the adjacent end of one element of the other unit, transverse .pins extending through the ends of said members and through the corresponding ends of the elements between them to pivotally connect said structures, at least one of said members comprising the base of a conveyor flight and being provided withan arm extending transversely of the length of the universal joint structure and between the axes of the associated pins.

5. In a conveyor chain universal joint structure, two pairs of elements arranged in alignment and having adjacent ends spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth between them, an upright pin pivotally connecting the elements of each pair to provide for their relative swivelling in one plane, a pair of conveyor flights at the opposite sides of the chain, each flight having a base extending along the outer side faces of the, end portions of said adjacent elements, and spaced horizontal pins extending through the two bases and-the elements between them topivotally connect the pairs of elements and providefor'their.swivelling transversely of said plane.

6. Inya conveyor chain, elements arrangedend to end but spaced apart to receivea sprocket tooth between them, a pivot pin extending through the end of each element adjacent the other element and projecting-outwardly from each sidexthereof a distance exceeding'the overall width-of the ele-v ment, the pin being shoulderednear'its outer end, conveyor flights extendingoutwardiy from opposite sides of the chainandaeach having. a base extending alongside. the adjacent;- ends. of the elements and having spacedapertures. for receiving said pi eaehaperturebeing-z shouldered to seat the pin shouldenand, meanspon the outer nds of e pins r t inin the. flightsthere'om.

'7. In a conveyor chain universal; joint-structure, two units arranged end to end, each come prising a pair of elements pivotally connected; to swivel in. one lane, adjacent. elementsoi the; two units being spaced apart to receive vaspro'cket tooth between them, each elementhavingacentral longitudinal portion of relativelyvshallow depth and side flanges of relatively-greaterdepth, a pair of members appliedjto, the; outer sides of the flanges at the adjacent ends of said spaced elements andpivotally connected-to the: adjacent endsof said spaced elements to providefor'their relative swivelling movement transversely oi said plane and forming the-sole connection between said units,- at leastaone of said members. having a depth and length correspondingto thatofthe adjacent flanges and having a conveyor flight arm extending outwardly. from the chain.

JOHN L. CLARKSQN;

REFERENCES-CITED. a

The following references are ofirecord; in thfe v file of this patent:

UNITED STATES'PATENTS 3 

